NEW YORK — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local): 9:35 a.m. Stocks are opening higher on Wall Street, led by gains in technology and health care companies. Microsoft rose 1.2 percent in the first few minutes of trading Friday, and Boston Scientific rose 1 percent. Kraft Heinz plunged 27 percent after disclosing a federal investigation into the company's procurement operations and slashing the value of its Oscar Mayer and Kraft brands. The S&P 500 index rose 7 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,782. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 102 points, or 0.4 percent, to 25,956....

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Friday on hopes of a trade deal between the United States and China, but a 26 percent plunge in Kraft Heinz Co hit the consumer staples sector. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 55.64 points, or 0.22 percent, at the open to 25,906.27. The S&P 500 opened higher by 5.79 points, or 0.21 percent, at 2,780.67. The Nasdaq Composite gained 21.93 points, or 0.29 percent, to 7,481.63 at the opening bell. (Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)

By Nelson Bocanegra and Steven GrattanCUCUTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Tensions along the Colombia-Venezuela border over the entry of aid meant to alleviate widespread food and medicine shortages in the socialist country will be accompanied by music on Friday, as rival concerts kick off on both sides of the boundary.British billionaire Richard Branson is backing "Venezuela Aid Live" in the Colombian border city of Cucuta, where he and 35 artists hope to raise $100 million for food and medical aid.Some 250,000 people are expected at the free event, which will features performances by Alejandro Sanz, Maluma, Luis Fonsi and Carlos Vives....

PITTSBURGH — Kraft Heinz disclosed an investigation by federal regulators and will slash the value of its Oscar Mayer and Kraft brands by $15.4 billion. Shares plunged 26 percent at the opening bell Friday, the company's biggest single-day decline, after posting a stunning $12.6 billion loss for the fourth quarter. Kraft Heinz divulged the receipt of a subpoena in October from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to its procurement operations. Those operations handle interactions with outside suppliers. The company said that it is fully cooperating with the SEC. Details of the investigation emerged in the company's fourth-quarter earnings...

By Tom Balmforth and Alexander ReshetnikovMOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian court on Friday ruled that Paul Whelan, a former U.S. marine accused of spying, should be held in a pre-trial detention facility for a further three months to give investigators more time to look into his case. Whelan, who holds U.S., British, Canadian and Irish passports, was detained in a Moscow hotel room on Dec. 28 and accused of espionage, a charge he denies. If found guilty, he could be imprisoned for up to 20 years.The case has put further strain on already poor U.S.-Russia relations as has that of...

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